POLICE have struck a deal with a land-owner to remove travellers from land near the town centre.

They moved on to the land in Dunwoody Way after being evicted from land at Crewe Business Park and the Crewe Gates Farm Industrial Estate.

Residents living in nearby West Street, whose gardens back on to the site where the caravans are now parked, say they want them to move on.

One woman, who asked not be named, said: 'We are worried about them and the mess they cause. Nobody wants them living behind us.

'They have not caused any trouble but we fear they will when they are told to move on.

'They are behind our garden and it's not nice having to wake up and see five or six caravans every morning. It will be better when they move on to somewhere else.'

Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council legal enforcement officer Allison Jackson said a deal had been agreed between police and the owner of the land that the group of travellers would be removed by this morning.

She said: 'They have been on the land for about a week and they are set to be moved on.

'A planning application has already been approved to start development work on the land which is privately owned in the summer.

'If they are not removed by Wednesday the land owner can take the steps to get them moved by a court order.

'They are there illegally but all relevant agencies, including ourselves and police, have to carry out a social assessment to ascertain why they are there before moving them on.'